Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
713. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to implement a way of recognising Ukrainian medical qualifications in Ireland so that Ukrainians can work in the medical field (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27642/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Medical Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of doctors in Ireland. Like many organisations across the State, the Medical Council is committed to supporting people arriving from Ukraine and is supporting doctors arriving here. The Medical Council has established an internal working group to examine ways in which the Council can support these doctors and has a dedicated email address and webpage for doctors arriving from Ukraine. The Council is working with a range of stakeholders to examine ways in which it can further support doctors arriving from Ukraine into Ireland.
Officials from my Department form part of a coordination group established by the European Commission to examine the registration of Ukrainian health and social care professionals arriving in EU States as a result of the conflict. This group shares knowledge and best practice and is examining methods to streamline and expedite recognition of Ukrainian professional qualifications for these professionals, including the use of electronic databases, the EU information centres for academic recognition and machine translation tools.
My Department, along with the Medical Council and the HSE will continue to ensure that all avenues are being explored with a view to enabling Ukrainian qualified doctors to apply for registration, always conscious of the need to ensure that patient safety, is to the fore of any decisions regarding registration. I understand that the Medical Council has been in direct contact with the individual concerned.
